# Burnaby School District Trustee Election Official links - [Voting information](https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/mayor-and-council/elections) - [List of school trustee candidates](https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/mayor-and-council/elections/candidates/office-of-school-trustees-candidate-profiles) ## Where do Burnaby school board trustee candidates stand on AI in classrooms? ![[preamble]] List of parties and candidates: - [[#Burnaby Citizens Association]] - [[#Burnaby Green Party]] - [[#Independent]] - [[#New Burnaby Party]] - [[#Restore Burnaby Alliance]] --- ## Burnaby Citizens Association - [Party website](https://www.burnaby-citizens.ca/) | Steven Andrada | Hillary Bergshoeff | Bill Brassington | | --- | --- | --- | | ![[burnaby-steven-andrada.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-hillary-bergshoeff.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-bill-brassington.webp\|200]] | | **Paul Kwon** | **Jen Mezei** | **Kristin Schnider** | | ![[burnaby-paul-kwon.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-jen-mezei.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-kristin-schnider.webp\|200]] | **Colin Zuo** | | | |![[burnaby-colin-zuo.webp\|200]] | | | We received some comments from Burnaby Citizens Association candidates: > [!info] Statement from candidate **Steven Andrada** > > As a trustee candidate, what is your position on AI chatbots in education? > I personally oppose AI chatbots in education. As an educator, I believe a well-meaning learning experience engages our children in real conversations with real individuals > >> If elected, would you work to remove, or keep out, AI chatbots from classrooms? > Personally, my priority for the Board is to establish a policy based on consultation, engagement, and reliable academic research that protects human rights, our environment, and the health and wellbeing of our children. I will act to protect our children and support them in building their future anchored on their well-being, not fall prey to tech profits and selfish business gains. > > I will work and consult with the unions representing the workers in our schools to ensure those we entrust our children to are equipped and supported with training and have a voice in policy-making tables. --- ## Burnaby Green Party - [Party website](https://burnabygreenparty.com/) | Jen Jang | Jasmine Nicholsfigueiredo | | --- | --- | | ![[burnaby-jen-jang.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-jasmine-nichosfigueiredo.webp\|200]] | --- ## Independent ### Diane Pearce ![[burnaby-diane-pearce.webp\|200]] ### Jenny Yamagata ![[burnaby-jenny-yamagata.webp\|200]] > [!success] Supports a pause on AI in classrooms > Thank you for reaching out on this important subject. I am against the introduction of AI Data centers in Burnaby as I feel that it will waste too many valuable resources, such as land, water and power. As we continually face watering bans year after year, I don't see how they could justify limiting water usage for citizens, especially to redirect it to Data Centers. Any benefit they tout in job creation would be more than offset in jobs lost due to replacement by AI.  > > I do not make use of AI on a regular basis as I would rather think for myself. In certain instances, it could prove to helpful to streamline tasks. What I find most concerning is the number of reports of chat bots that have lead to people either committing suicide or bringing harm to others. An obvious example of this would be the Tumbler Ridge shooting. OpenAI, the company behind Chat GPT, flagged and banned the shooter's account a year and a half before the incident and yet decided against reporting it to the police. I think this is incredibly tragic as this could have been prevented all together and the child could have received the mental health support needed in order to prevent such a needless tragedy.  > > I am not a fan of the use of AI in Burnaby schools. I feel that it limits critical thinking, creativity and creates lazy learners. Being an independent thinker, especially during these times, is crucial so that children can grow up to be decisive and make intelligent life choices. If elected I would definitely commit to the removal of AI chatbots from classrooms. --- ## New Burnaby Party - [Party website](https://newburnaby.ca/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/newburnabyparty/) | Haini Xiao | | --- | | ![[burnaby-haini-xiao.webp\|200]] | --- ## Restore Burnaby Alliance > [!info]- Statement from website > ### Foster Critical and Adaptive Thinking in the Age of A.I. > Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how students learn, work, communicate, and make decisions. Schools must help young people do more than use AI tools: they must learn to question information, recognize bias, verify sources, protect privacy, and use technology responsibly. - [Party website](https://restoreburnaby.ca/) | Benita Sun | Daisy Wei | John Wong | | --- | --- | --- | | ![[burnaby-benita-sun.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-daisy-wei.webp\|200]] | ![[burnaby-john-wong.webp\|200]]| | **Angel Yeh** | | | | ![[burnaby-angel-yeh.webp\|200]] | | |